I just got a Camaro calendar as a present from my girlfriend and after looking through the months, i found it upsetting that there was not a single third gen in the calander. There was a lot of first and a couple second. But there were two months of fourth gen (which kinda upset me) but still, not a third gen. What is it with the media and the public not showing our cars. I understand the first is a classic muscle car but the third gen, that's American muscle! Is it just me or does anyone else think that the fourth gen only gets the attention it does becuase it was the endding of the camaro?

 

I have noticed this in many other things also, especially di-cast cars and HOT WHEELS. And it just frustrates me sometimes and I rarly look trought the toys section anymore.

T-shirts is another thing I have a hard time finding for third-gen Firebirds/TA's.

[EDIT: Sweet this was my 100th post ]

 

I've tried my hardest both online and on ebay and can't find any sort of model of third gen. I know there are a few out there but not many. If anyone out there has any of these such models could you share the name of a company that made it?

Does anyone have and ideas on why we tend to be the forgetten gen? Sadly we tend to be associated with white trash but still, these are tough looking cars. I'm also surprised that more movies/tv don't pick up on the third gen. The T/As (I think) have knight rider but what about the camaros? Don't we get any recognition?

 

Well I have seen a few 3rd gen camaro models in hobby shops and stuff but not very many. These are some of the best looking cars around, but now with all of the import stuff taking over our cars are being forgotten with the new generation of young adults and teens. But give it another 10 years and see what happens .

 

Tht's my biggest fear. In another ten years i worry about how rare our cars will be and how expesive it will be to find and buy a decent one...but then again who wants to buy a decent one. but that crap one on the corner for $100 dollars and build it up.

But honestly, i think our cars are going to end up getting lost with time. they were a product of the 80s and that is pretty much the forgotten decade. With gas mileage starting to become an issue and people wanting the SUV they can fit the family into and still carry cargo, our cars are being forgotten.

Not to mention with the jap invasion, our cars face the competition of the car with half an engine in them. think about this though. when you drive down the road and see a nice Z28 drive by, you turn your head and admire the car. when you see a dropped, fart-canned, body-kit covered 4 banger drive by with it's enormous spoiler in the back, what do you do..... laugh. so why is it that our cars are fading away and the japs are here to stay? I honestly couldn't sit down in my car, look at that big H staring back and me and feel pride. but then again, that's just me venting off topic.

We have to start gaining support of our cars. Yea, we've seen how great the first gen is, we've seen the styles of the second ge, now let's get the public to see the third gen!

Another point i want to make, and i don't know how many people will agree, but if you look at a fourth gen, does it not hint jap at you. You can see that the import looks started creeping up on it at the end. i think they look decent, but i'd take a third gen over even a fourth gen SS anyday... make that a third gen Z28. Sorry to make this post mostly about camaro but i know little to none about the firebird. if someone wants to fill me in i'd love to learn. but i don't even know what the gta and tta are much less where they fall in the lineup with firebird, formula, TA.

 

Basic rundown of Firebirds...

You've got:
1. TTA - Turbo Trans Am (1989) Collectible, rare, quick, etc
2. GTA - "Luxury" edition Trans Am
3. Trans Am
4. Formula - Trans Am powertrain w/out ground effects.
5. Firebird

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to list the Firehawks! Let's put them up at number zero...

 

Yep, you are right. Pretty few models, etc, out there for us.

I have a great-looking 1982 Z-28 I bought at a Kay-Bee Toys in Pennsylvania last year---made by "Sun Star" Toys (Japan).

Hope the picture comes out OK.

(Later) Sorry about the crappy pic. I've seen these models in different colors (I think this one came in white also).

If you're really hot on one, here's the SKU number: 57440 01922.

Hope this helps.

 

Actually hot wheels has used a 3rdgen Camaro quite often the last few years,i just picked up a 5 pack that had a gold one.
Now 3rdgen Firebirds hot wheels hasn't made one since 96.

 

The third gen F-Body's started out the generation with very little fan fair. The cars were being built for maximum gas milage with fair performance. They did end the generation with a great bang. The 89 TTA's and the 91/92 Firehawks are still as fast as some of the fastest F-bodies ever built.

Lets not forget these are the last "American Built" f-bodys Pontiac and Chevrolet ever did. They just need more time to gain the "cult" status these cars deserve.

- Dave

 

Ha, cult status... I like it. You would think that Wal-Mart would have soemthing, right? Nope, even the mall had a bunch of 1:18 scale fart-can Fast and the Furious die-cast models. I laughed. Good models, too, I bet the company who made them would make a wicked 3rd-gen model. I found the 2nd-gen kit, then a snap-together 4th-gen kit (cheaply made, might I add) but nothing about 3rd-gen.

But hey, I can't put a miniature sway bar on my real car, so I guess it isn't a huge loss. At least the aftermarket sells lotsa stuff for us, ensuring our lineage won't fade off anytime soon...

 

Not many diecast thirdgens available.....but lots of plastic model kits were produced in the 80s.....I have a couple still, but sold all the others on eBay.

 

I know this topic comes up often.

Compared to other cars, yes it is a PITA to find thirdgen models and diecasts. However, in my past few years of looking I have noticed that their are many more thirdgen models out there than it appears. Just keep your eyes open (really wide!) and you may be pleasently suprised.

 

I just hope that we will gain the support. These cars are amazing and if they aren't kept around I'm kinda worried I'll never get around to my dream of hooking up a really nice 92 Z28, or 90 Iroc, I can't decide which i want to stick with, maybe use the 92 for racing and restore the 90.... there's an idea.

Out of curiosity, has anyone seen anything about any sort of museum for third gens? I've often thought about taking a warehouse and collecting one of every version of every year of camaro... a lot of cars but an awesome dream. Restore them all and you'd have the best third gen camaro museum ever.

 

I totally disagree. The 82 Z28 was Motor Trend's car of the year, and paced the Indianapolis 500. As I recall they created quite a stir, and GM sold hundreds of thousands of them.

Right now they are not new enough to be desirable nor old enough to be collectable.

But they will be.

 

On the topic of models, i was at AC Moore, Michael's, and Walmart today looking around at the models and found, first....second... and fourth generation camaros! I don't want to seem like I'm complaining but where are the 3rd gen? This question will just continue on and on but hopefully in a few years once our cars actually classify as classic cars we'll start to get noticed.

 

Hi all,
When my Bird was new back in 82 it turned heads. Twenty-two years later, my restored 82 Firebird is again turning heads. I'm getting thumbs up by a lot of drivers.

 

Right now our beloved 3rd gens are suffering from the "white trash" image that common people associate with them. There are still way too many 3rd gens out there that are rust buckets, half assed resto jobs ( primer bodies, multi colored panels) or simply in yards in pieces.

Want to fight this? Finish your projects, clean up your third gen, restore them and mostly SHOW EM OFF!. These are fantastic looking cars and people notice them when they are clean and shiney.

My GTA is a neck snapper locally and its no where near clean its just complete, all one color and looks like only a third gen can!

 

absolutely agree with letsrock...there aren't enough people fixing these cars up to even a clean stock status to warrant an aftermarket why would people build models after them besides those of us who love them?

personally i am surprised there is as much out there as there is after the many years of owning my car. i can go miles upon miles without seeing a decent condition 3rdgen let alone one with any real mods and when it comes to the show circuit it seems i only have to compete against 1 or 2 and often times they are either some crazy scheme lowrider or a full blown drag car.

it's an unfortunate fact, but a fact none the less which was a secondary factor in why i purchased my car. if i wanted something that everyone else had i'd be driving a mustang or a 4thgen at best.

there isn't a mile i drive or a place i stop where someone doesn't comment on my car about how very few nice 3rdgens are seen these days and it's true......some people may say that's bad, it doesn't bother me much.

you want to get a real kick take your clean 3rdgen to an 80's rock concert next time poison or the crue are in town. you'll see how loved and respected these cars are....people go nuts over them.

 

That comment right there is reason to believe without a doubt these cars will be collectable and sought after like older ones are now.
These people that go nuts over em at them concerts or from that generation will be looking to get one someday. 10-20 years down the road they'll be restoring them and showing them at car shows, reminising with people about the days when they were new, stories about 5.0 stangs and big hair .

My GTA will remain as close to original as possible, right down to its original 305 LB9 motor. I was a teenager when these cars were still hot and new and Im proud to own one nowadays.

 

It is funny because just yesterday I was surfing to try to find posters on the third generation cars. Granted there were a few, but it was difficult to find. I also can't undersatnd why the third gen cars don't catch attention like the other generation vehicles. I think they are better that the fourth generation stuff - but that is just my opinion.

 

I think the fourth gen get more attention becuase they were the last generation. I don't think that they would get the attention they do if it wasn't because they were the end of the line. In my opinion they're the worst of te 4 generations. But then again, i know others who say the third is.... but still the fourth gets so much attention because it was the last of the camaro, just thinking about that upsets me. But hey, what do i care? i love the third gen so any other ones they made wouldn't really matter.

 

Well, the fourth gens are undeniably the best of the bunch when it comes to performance, handling and stopping capabilities straight from the factory. We here are all a little biased when it comes to choosing our favourite generation. You can argue that the 89 TTA is still the fastest factory Trans Am or the 92 Firehawks are awesome performers but these were low production special editions. There were some great performers in the 1st and 2nd gens as well but they don't handle as good or stop as well as the 4th gens do.In a few years I hope to pick up an LS1 F body for cheap, ultimately I would like to keep my third gen in good shape and beat on the 4th(because they are so much fun to drive right out of the box). I think thats why they garner so much attention in the novelty world. Perhaps as time goes on and all of the delapetated 3rd gens finally go to the bone yard the3rd generation will get its respect from model makers and paraphenalia manufacturers.Thats my take on it anyway.......

 

Lookie Lookie
.
.
.
.

 

If I had the cash I would buy up the beater 3rd gens I see all over the place, park them (and assuming I still had money) and restore them to at lesat stock condition, sell them for some cash.

 

One thing I have noticed at least.. if you take a 4th gen and a 3rd gen to a big car show.. the 3rd gen gets more attention.. I've had so many ask about my car.. and not so many even go near the 4th.. they usually walk by.

Whats even funnier is at school there is this kid that drives a modified VW bug, the old style, with the stock engine, roll cage, and 5 point racing seats.. talks crap about the thirdgen camaros & birds, like his little POS would dominate my LO3,, lol.. as iff..

 

Finding a decent 3rdgen in my area is far and few inbetween but they are there.In due time our 3rdgens will get more respect,heck the late 2ndgens still don't but are starting to.








FastElectrics I hate to tell ya but some of those old VW Beetles could beat your LO3,especially a modified one.They aren't as slow as you might think.

 

Seems like this past summer, my car got more attention than in years past. They're starting to get rare and noticed. And I have a nice collection of 3rd gen models.

monogram: 91 formula, 92 formula, 87 gta, 89 tta
amt/ertl: 92 z28, 91 gta, 92 gta

I used to see them at hobby shops about 10 years ago, and picked them up. Now, ebay is really the only place to look and the prices aren't too bad. There is also a 91 z28 model that ertl made I've seen it on ebay once. And there are a few more 3rd gen models that I didn't mention, including a firebird targa from 84.

Almost forgot, I took my car to a def leppard concert this summer, it was awesome

 

Johnny Lightning recently released another thirdgen camaro to the market, keep your eyes out for it.

 

IIRC, there was a time way back when, when first gen's weren't even appreciated after GM had moved on to the 2nd's and 3rd's. I think there is a correlation between what LetsRock said, and first generations in a 2nd generation time.

Just give it time, we'll be okay.

 

i found an 1/8 scale plastic model made by monogram, made it almost identical to my iroc, fought myself real hard to not build it but gave up and did it.bought this model in sealed factory wrapper, paid like 40 $ last year, and i love it. will post some pics of it and iroc soon, and yes there are still some out there new and ebay sales for the third gens, but takes alot of searching!

 

The only one I was able to find was SunStar's as well:

 

Hell yeah! Could not agree any more. Thats what I plan on doing, starting with my86 IROC-Z thats sitting in the garage. Any onther person would of junked it or sold it for some extra $$$ but I LOVE thirdgens and could not see another one go to the boneyard.

Kevin

 

When I took mine to do some lats minute shopping, I had quite a few people in that one day who didn't give me the thumbs up, but honked their horn to get my attention so they could tell me how nice they thought the car was.

As far as the white trash image, I don't know about every where else, but here in NYC the 2nd gen has more of a white trash image than the 3rd. Except for those mentioned above; as far as the 3rd goes around here, I think many just don't notice it or see it as just another car.

 

Hotwheels 3rd generations?????


:hail:

 

i swear im not having more then 2 kids cuz there is no way i will ever drive anything else! no other car that i have ever driven has made me more happy then this one. i think knowing that i get to drive my car to work every morning is the only reason i get up and go to work lol

 

Want to talk lack of respect? Try owning an 81 Z28 At least when I drive the 84 T/A, nobody automatically assumes I've been in jail

 

Hey dude '81Zs are just as cool,to me anyway.I'll be looking for a 2ndgen sometime next year though I'm torn between a 70-73 or 79-81.

 

lol I actually bought my IROC from a *******, had trannys sitting on tree stumps in his yard and cars on bloacks, ******, trucker hat, pocket t, with camel cigs. I almost died..he said the roc' was his daily driver.

but a 87 all option 350tpi roc' for 1200..cant beat that. I agve her a better image up until the accident

 

Here is the best example of a 3rd gen Firebird. The casting is called "80's Firebird"

I have 99% of all versions of this hotwheel.

Also Im hoping for a shot at a Johnny Litghtning casting along with a feature in Hemmings Muscle Car, this should give the 3rd gen some respect........


Hi Don:

Some time ago you submitted pictures of your car to Johnny Lightning, where I worked. Your photos are still with them, but I have changed jobs. I am now West Coast Associate Editor for Hemmings Publications, including their new Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine. I forwarded your photos to the editor, and he may be interested in doing a photo feature on your vehicle.

Could you please tell us a bit more about it? And where are you located again?

thanks!

Jeff Koch
West Coast Feature Editor
Hemmings Publications

 

If your looking for the Hot Wheels Thirdgen just go to ebay and search for Blown Camaro you will find many most are the sky blue color tho

 

i just picked up a 1/24? camaro and a ratfink/ed roth 3rd gen maro toy from late 80s early 90s on ebay

 

For christmas i received a camaro calender from my brother. (Also lots of other little camaro stuff but still no ACTUAL Camaro )

I was very upset when i saw no 3rd gens either..Like you said lots of 1st Gens. We do have the same calender i beilive. Picture of a 69' SS and a 67' SS on the cover.

 

Hey i resemble that remark!!! :lala: :lala:

 

Yea Steve, we have the same one.

Oh wait, i get to flip it! First day of January.... sadly i forgot that

 

85 T/A, that is a killer model!

I was looking around on ebay and saw an 82 (i think) Camaro die cast model. It was nice, i'm thinking of bidding on it. I'd love to get one of those.

It's true that there are models and what-not around but you jsut have to look a little harder than other gens do. But I'm willing to give it a few years. We'll get the recognition we deserve.

 

I have been looking for years for a 87-90 formula model. that's a hard one to find! I have found almost every 3rd gen but, that one. the camaro models are the easy ones to find. do a search there are still back stock being sold on e-bay and online hobby stores. I have a 91 formula model as this is as close to my 88 I can find. lots of 84 s/e firebirds, GTA and TTA 's too

 

Did someone say f-body toys??? Check out my cardomain page... I must have 99% of them!

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/474242

 

I ca make a calender on my site, if I can get nice pics of thirdgens.

 

aaron, you have an AMAZING collection!! I am in awe. how long did it take you to get all that/ where did you get it all?

 

Most of it was found at yard sales and flea markets... for no more than .25 each! (the matchbox that is)

I got most of the 1:18 as presents from my g/f

The RC Camaro was found at a yard sale for $5... I nearly crapped myself

Just go to flea markets and car show swap meets and you will find lots of good stuff! Also, if you have a town dump, check out the (well we have a book/mag shed) paper bin for old car mags (yah **** too )